In addition to the foregoing the following permanent military posts have been recently acquired by the Public Health Service from the Army:
| Post | Size of Post | |
|---|---|---|
| Boise Barracks, Idaho | 4 troops cavalry | |
| Ft. W.H. Harrison, Montana | 4 companies infantry and hdqrs. | 1892 |
| Ft. Walla Walla, Washington | 4 troops cavalry and hdqrs. | 1859 |
| Ft. McKenzie, Sheridan, Wyom. | 8 companies infantry & hdqrs. | 1898 |
| Ft. Logan H. Roots, Arkansas | 4 companies infantry | 1892 |
VETERANS’ BUREAU CASES TREATED IN MILITARY HOSPITALS
“Now, with reference to assistance rendered within our own hospitals, in an interview with the Director of the War Risk Insurance in 1919, I heard the former Secretary of War say that he considered it an obligation on the Army to assist in caring for the discharged World War veterans and that any vacant bed in Army hospitals was always available for the treatment of these men. To carry out this policy, the Bureau of War Risk and later the Veterans’ Bureau was from time to time advised by the Medical Department of the number of available beds in our hospitals in which we could accept for treatment veterans of the World War. The number of beds thus offered has varied slightly from time to time, but has always been on the increase, particularly since last July. Last May 1450 beds were available to the Veterans’ Bureau; in October 1752 beds were available, and by November 24th 2200 beds were available. The following brief table gives the exact status on January 5, 1922:
| Hospital | Beds as signed to B.V.B. (1) | Patients in Hospital | Total Cases Under treatment. | Vacant Beds B.V.B. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T. B. (2) | Neu-P. (3 | G.M. & S. (4) | ||||
| Army & Navy | 150 | 0 | 2 | 85 | 87 | 72 |
| Beaumont | 200 | 43 | 5 | 18 | 66 | 134 |
| Fitzsimmons | 600 | 787 | 0 | 74 | 861 | 338 |
| Letterman | 250 | 7 | 7 | 58 | 72 | 237 |
| Ft. Sam Houston | 300 | 139 | 11 | 63 | 213 | 87 |
| Walter Reed | 750 | 26 | 24 | 334 | 384 | 366 |
| TOTAL | 2250 | 1002 | 49 | 632 | 1683 | 1234 |
Within a few days we expect to open up several hundred beds at Fitzsimmons General Hospital for veterans suffering from tuberculosis. This last large increase has been made possible by funds transferred by the Veterans’ Bureau to the War Department for the specific purpose of enlarging this hospital. When the construction and alteration made possible by these funds has been completed (and the completion is expected almost daily) 700 additional beds for the tuberculosis will have been provided in permanent structures for a little over $1000 per bed.
In addition to the buildings turned over to the Public Health, which have already been enumerated, the Medical Department has turned over to that Service supplies approximating a value of $12,336,000.00. It has been a source of gratification to the Medical Department, and I am sure to the War Department, that the Army was in a position to assist in rendering aid to the American soldier disabled in the World War.
The total number of all cases treated in our general hospitals during the last year was approximately 30,000; of these 10,000 were local cases and 20,000 were general cases, and of the latter 15,700 were our own and 4300 pertained to the Veterans’ Bureau.
A brief summary of the Veterans’ Bureau cases treated in our hospitals may be of interest. Of the 4,300 cases treated during the year (October 1, 1920, to October 1, 1921) 180, or about 4% were suffering from either nervous or mental conditions; 2195 or about 51% with tuberculosis; 770, or about 18% with diseases or injuries of the osseous system; 75, or nearly 2% with heart or vascular diseases, and the remaining 25% was made up of all other conditions combined.
In addition to this work, much assistance has been rendered in making physical examinations for that Bureau to determine the right to compensation or the necessity for hospitalization. Over 2,000 of these examinations were made during the year, many of which necessitated admission to hospital for varying periods to permit a thorough survey in order that correct diagnosis or physical condition might be established.”